Hamilton Medical Center

Without light or electricity, hospitals would have a difficult time taking care of their local communities. But care centers need more than just light switches and electrical outlets. In this day and age of expanding technologies and healthcare responsibilities, providers need thoughtful planning and design around staff and patient usage in their facilities, internal and external communications, and lighting that contributes to positive patient experience. Once systems are strategized and designed, they need to be professionally and safely installed.

Lawson Electric Company recently finished a number of exciting design/build Hamilton Medical Center projects so that health care provider can continue to evolve in taking good care of its patients.

Hamilton Health Care System is a not-for-profit, united system of care serving the northwest Georgia region. The Dalton, Georgia-based flagship of the system, Hamilton Medical Center, is a 282-bed regional acute-care hospital which offers major medical, surgical and diagnostic services. Hamilton’s innovative treatment services and dedicated healing environment require state-of-the-art facilities.

Hamilton’s newest facility—The Peeple’s Cancer Institute—once again raises the bar for health care in the region, and Lawson was there to help see the project through.

The 64,000 square-foot facility, estimated at $46.5 million, houses outpatient cancer diagnostic and treatment services in one location. The team of medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons and clinical support staff work collaboratively in shared spaces to provide state-of-the-art care in a healing, nurturing environment. Design and development of the facility incorporated direct feedback from focus groups including cancer survivors treated at Hamilton, cancer survivors treated elsewhere, local caregivers and community volunteers.

Lawson managed all low voltage installations, including nurse calls, intercoms, fire alarm audio, and visuals. They secured the 2,000-amp service coming into the building and added 80-kw generator power for emergency panels.

State of the art lighting was also a major achievement, thanks to Lawson. Different types of lighting can be found throughout the facility, from welcoming guests in the main lobby to a $50,000 LED fixture for the center’s Varian linear accelerator. A medical linear accelerator is the device most commonly used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer. It delivers high-energy x-rays or electrons to the region of the patient’s tumor.

In the Radiation/Oncology department, light installations on the ceiling feature changing scenes. A patient lying down no longer will be staring at tiles or lights, but at soothing forest imagery and other scenes.

The Peeples Cancer Institute officially began welcoming patients in January.

The Anna Shaw Children’s Institute is another source of pride on the medical center campus. The Institute is a regional leader of and an advocate for the care of children who experience the challenges of developmental delays. The 50,000 square-foot, three-story building is designed in the style of a tree house, appropriate for patients up to 11 years old. Lighting solutions Lawson provided were throughout, similar to the Peeple’s Cancer Institute.